Display panel construction



June 1951 v P. 1. MICHAEL- ETAL 2,557,387

DISPLAY PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Apg. e, 1947 BY m B.

A TTOKNE Y3 Patented June 19, 1951 DISPLAY PANEL CONSTRUCTION Pierre L. Michael and Kenneth L. Robison, Houston, Tex.

Application August 6, 1947, Serial No. 766,680

4 Claims.

The invention relates to a bill board construction such as those used in'outdoor advertising and the like.

Present day bill board constructions are composed of a framework, having various interconnecting wooden bracing members. Such a construction is time consuming in building and is of such a design so that it cannot be readily dismantled from location to location.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a bill board construction which is strong enough to have positioned thereon a display panel of considerable weight, but which construction is simple in design and readily built.

Another object of the invention is to provide a billboard construction which can be readily built on a desired location and if desired, can be readily dismantled and moved to another location.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bill board construction in which the display panel on such construction can be readily positioned thereon and fastened in place and which can be readily removed at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bill board construction having a minimum number of beams and support members and which issimple to construct.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a bill board construction for outdoor advertising, a plurality of vertical supports, having panel support means secured thereto.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a bill board construction for outdoor advertising, a plurality of vertical supports, panel support means secured thereto, which panel support is provided with means to engage a bracket on the panel to support a panel on the vertical supports.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent with a consideration of the following description and drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the sign board construction, illustrating the preferred arrangement thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, illustrating the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing the preferred method for securing a display panel on the construction.

A display construction embodying the general arrangement of the invention is shown at 2 in Fig. 1.

The construction shown here, illustrates a display panel rectangular in shape, it seems obvious, however, that any desired configuration of the display panel could be used without deviating from the scope of the invention. The disclosed embodiment illustrates a typical form used for outdoor advertising and the like. i

A plurality of vertically extending supports 3 are shown in Fig. 1 as extending upwardly from the ground 4, the lower end 5 of such supports extending downwardly thereinto a sufiicient distance to give rigidity to the construction.

The supports extend upwardly a sumcient distance to support a display panel thereon of a given size. Extending upwardly from adjacent the bottom I of the display panel 9 to adjacent the top H of the panel 9, are a plurality of panel support members l2. These panel support members are vertically disposed adjacent each of the supports 3 and .are connected thereto by the strap brackets [3 which extend about a portion of the periphery [6 of the supports 3. These strap brackets I3 may be connected to the supports 3 by any suitable means and are shown as being connected thereto by a plurality of cap screws l8.

Each panel support member [2, is preferably formed of angle iron, one leg thereof being connected at 2!! by suitable means such as welds (not shown) or a bolt 2| to the forward end of the strap bracket l3. The other leg 22 of the angle irons is then in a common plane ready to receive the display panel 9, which will now be further described.

Secured in the leg 22 of the angle iron or support member [2, are a plurality of formed bolts 21 which are substantially J-shaped. These bolts are provided with threads 28 and a nut 29 thereon. A bracket construction 30 is arranged to be secured on the rear surface of the panel support member 9. This bracket construction has legs 3| and 32 arranged to be secured to the rear surface of such panel by any suitable means, such as bolts or welds or the like, depending upon the nature of the material of the panel. A leg 33, extends rearwardly from the legs 3| and 32 and is bent downwardly at 34 and thence forwardly at 35 to provide an inner engaging surface 36 for the bolt 21. Any suitable number of these brackets may be-provided laterally on the rear surface of the panel member 9 and are arranged thereon at suitable spaced points so as to engage with the bolts 21 when the panel member is in position on the construction as shown in Fig. 2.

The panel 9 may be of any suitable material and is shown as being formed as a plurality of wooden planks secured together and trimmed with the molding 40. If it is desired to further rigidify the panel 9 upon the support members I2, a bolt 4| may be passed through the moulding and panel frame 42 and into the leg 22 of the support member l2.

In order to position the panel 9 upon the construction, it is only necessary to elevate it to such a position so that the brackets 30 are in line with the bolts 21. The panel may then be moved sidewardly onto the panel support member and the bolts 21. Such bolts may then be tightened by rotating the nut 29, whereupon the inner end 42 of the bolts 21 engages the surface 36 of bracket 30 to lock the display panel into position. From the invention described above it seems apparent that a structure is provided which is simple and comprises relatively few parts, which can be readily assembled. and disassembled and which is capable of long and efficient use for which it is designed.

A construction in accordance with this invention has been found entirely satisfactory in use. Such construction is sturdy, but yet easily and quickly built. The cost of such construction is further reduced by the simplicity of design.

Broadly the invention contemplates a bill board construction, and more particularly to an improved construction of bill board such as those used in outdoor advertising and the like.

What is claimed is:

1. A bill board construction comprising, a plurality of spaced vertically arranged supports extending upwardly from the ground, a panel to be supported thereon, a plurality of strap clamps secured to each of said panel supports, an angle iron vertically disposed adjacent each of said supports and having one surface thereof secured to said clamps, the other surface of said angle iron being in a plane parallel to the displayed panel, and means in said last mentioned surface for engaging said display panel to secure it thereto, said means including a J -shaped bolt secured in said surface with the open side of said J-bolt facing upwardly, a plurality of brackets secured to said panel and aligned to interlock with said J-bolt whereby said panel may be positioned sidewardly of and parallel to said supports and positioned on such supports by engaging said J-bolts and brackets and sliding the panel into position.

2. An outdoor advertising structure comprising, a plurality of vertical supports positioned in the ground, a panel to be supported thereon, strap clamps secured to each of said supports and extending forward thereof, vertical angle irons secured to said straps, means for securing the display panels in position on said irons, said means including horizontal brackets on the rear surface of the panel, J-bolts extending through said angle iron, and facing to interlock with said brackets.

3. An outdoor advertising signboard construction comprising, a plurality of vertical supports extending upwardly from the ground, a panel to be supported thereon, vertically arranged angle irons secured thereto and extending along said supports a distance equal to the width of the signboard, one leg of said angle iron being in a plane parallel to the plane of the signboard, a plurality of horizontal brackets on the rear sur face of the signboard, fasteners extending through said angle iron and arranged to engage said brackets, said fasteners and brackets extending out of the vertical plane of each said support and panel in overlying relation to fit in sliding engagement laterally relative to the vertical plane of the signboard.

4. An outdoor advertising signboard construction comprising, a plurality of vertical supports extending upwardly from the ground, a panel to be supported thereon, vertically arranged angle irons secured thereto and extending along said supports a distance equal to the width of the signboard, one leg of said angle iron being in a plane parallel to the plane of the signboard, a plurality of horizontal brackets on the rear surface of the signboard, bolt fasteners extending through said angle iron and arranged to engage said brackets, said bolts and brackets extending out of the vertical plane of each said support and panel in overlying relation to fit in sliding engagement laterally relative to the vertical plane of the panel whereby the signboard may be slid into position and removed from said supports.

PIERRE L. MICHAEL. KENNETH L. ROBISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 876,754 Warner Jan. 14, 1908 1,252,429 Gruber Jan. 8, 1918 1,841,204 Overholtz Jan. 12, 1932 2,062,160 C'alkins Nov. 24, 1936 2,350,433 Vernon June 6, 1944 

